Alfa Romeo's 2017 Giulia sports sedan starts at $38,990

Alfa Romeo hopes to cement its U.S. return with the 2017 Giulia, a sports sedan that already has enthusiasts drooling over its handsome exterior and promised performance.

After a delay or two, the Giulia is finally going on sale in the U.S. Sales begin this month with the top Giulia Quadrifoglio model, while lower-level Giulia and Giulia Ti models will go on sale in January. The Quadrifoglio starts at $73,595, while the Giulia and Giulia Ti start at a somewhat more affordable $38,990 and $40,990, respectively. Those prices include destination charges of $995 for the Giulia and Giulia Ti, and $15,595 for the Quadrifoglio.

Both the Giulia and Giulia Ti use a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which sends 280 horsepower and 206 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Alfa’s Q4 all-wheel drive system is a $2,000 option. The base Giulia will do 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 149 mph, according to Alfa. The automaker also claims that all Giulia models have a near-perfect 50/50 front/rear weight distribution.

For nearly twice the price of the base model, the Giulia Quadrifoglio (four-leaf clover) packs a 2.9-liter twin-turbocharged V6. Coupled to a paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic, it produces 505hp, getting the Quadrifoglio from 0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Besides its special engine, the Quadrifoglio features other performance-related hardware like adaptive suspension, a programmable “Race” mode, and a carbon fiber rear spoiler and front splitter. Carbon ceramic brakes are available as an optional extra.

As the first mass-market Alfa model available in the U.S. since the 1990s, the Giulia has a lot riding on it. Only time will tell if this Italian upstart will be able to stand up to the likes of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

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